News from Hard Work U.®

SUBJECT: “HEROES REMEMBERED”-- KOREAN WAR VETERANS TRAVEL WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS TO WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR COMMEMORATION OF THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMISTICE

Korean War Veterans and Mr. Oscar Davis, of Orange, Texas, and Mr. Richard Peters of Forsyth, Mo., will travel with four College of the Ozarks students to Washington, D.C., to participate in the official commemoration ceremony of the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice July 24-27. This trip is part of the College’s Patriotic Education Travel Program, wherein students accompany Veterans to battle sites and important commemoration ceremonies.

In addition to attending the official Armistice Anniversary ceremony, the group will tour the Pentagon, attend the Evening Parade at Marine Barracks 8th and I, and attend a dedication ceremony of memorial in honor of “Reckless,” a Mongolian Mare that served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, carrying ammunition to the firing sites and wounded soldiers back down for treatment.

C of O student Morgan Sowell is one of the students traveling with Mr. Davis and Mr. Peters to Washington, D.C. She said that this trip is a wonderful opportunity to learn about something she was not alive to see, but is an important part of American history. “I cannot wait to meet our Veterans and learn from them, so that I can pass on their stories to the next generation,” Sowell said. “The Korean War is called the Forgotten War, but I think it’s time for America to remember and honor the men and women who served in it.”

Mr. Davis served in Korea as a Platoon Leader in the 7th Infantry Division, 17th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army from September 1952-June 1953. He received a Purple Heart during his service in Korea. Upon returning to the states he remained in the Reserves and retired with the rank of Colonel.

Mr. Peters served three nine-month tours in Korea as a 2nd Class Petty Officer E-5 in the U. S. Navy. He was assigned to USS Sitko Bay CVE 86 and arrived in Pusan, Korea, in September of 1951, and then was later assigned to the USS Passumpsic in October of 1951. Mr. Peters served a total of four years in the Navy and received a Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal, China Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with 5 Battle Stars, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Asia Occupation Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, ROK War Service Medal and the Missouri State Korean War Medal.

Both Mr. Peters and Mr. Davis, along with six other Korean Veterans and 16 College of the Ozarks students, will travel to South Korea September 28-October 7, to visit actual battle sites. To learn more about Patriotic Education Travel Program and to view the trip blog, visit www.cofo.edu.